Mira was immediately given pain relief, intravenous fluids and intensive wound care. Thankfully, radiographs revealed no internal structural damage, giving us hope that despite the severity of her external injuries, she could recover.

The road ahead was long. With both forelimbs heavily bandaged, Mira could not grasp branches or feed herself, so she had to be hand-fed throughout the early stages of her recovery. Her bandages needed to be changed every three to five days for almost two months, with each procedure requiring a general anaesthetic.

For three months, Mira received intensive treatment in our on-site wildlife veterinary centre. Once her wounds had healed sufficiently for her bandages to remain off, she was able to move into larger enclosures, gradually rebuilding her strength and confidence. Eventually, she progressed to one of our pre-release yards, where she could climb, explore and prepare for life back in the wild.

Mira’s recovery was difficult, lengthy and costly, but she was worth every cent. Her story has also become much bigger than one koala.

Many veterinarians may have considered euthanasia given the severity of Mira’s injuries and the intensive care she required. Instead, our veterinary team believed she had a genuine chance of recovery. Her case has now become a valuable case study demonstrating that, with appropriate treatment, patience and the right rehabilitation environment, even wildlife with devastating injuries can have a second chance.

Mira is also helping us educate the veterinary profession and challenge the mindset that severe wildlife injuries automatically mean euthanasia. Her recovery demonstrates the importance of considering treatment options and giving suitable cases the opportunity to heal.

Her story also highlights a much bigger problem. Mira was the victim of a vehicle strike in an area identified through our data as a wildlife strike hotspot. Hit-and-run incidents involving wildlife are unfortunately common, with an estimated 95% of wildlife strikes going unreported. Mira’s case strengthens our advocacy for greater driver awareness and improved road safety measures to protect wildlife.

Mira represents everything SKER stands for: rescue, veterinary care, rehabilitation, conservation, education and advocacy.

Most importantly, she is a symbol of hope. Her story reminds us that no matter how devastating an injury may appear, with patience, the right veterinary treatment and an environment designed for healing, even the hardest cases can stand a chance.

Mira was given a second chance — and now her story is helping create better chances for countless others.